2016 | Hamburg

Prismlab takes home prestigious IF Design Award for its RAPID400 SLA 3D Printer

Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing has been around since Charles Hull invented 3D Printing technology more than 30 years ago. Since then, a wide range of systems have been developed that incorporate the layering of computer assisted materials to produce complex products with the push of a button. But just because SLA 3D printing has been around for so long, it is by no means obsolete. If anything, it remains at the forefront in terms of the complexity and speeds at which items can be produced.

To demonstrate the longevity of SLA 3D Printing, look no further than what Chinese company Prismlab is accomplishing with their Rapid Series of SLA 3D Printers. Prismlab have developed a variety of 3D printers that can print up to 2,712 cubic centimeters an hour at an incredibly high 33 micron layer resolution. For comparison purposes, your standard filament-based 3D printer has problems at anything less than a 100 micron layer resolution).

And while the Shanghai based Prismlab, formed in 2013, isn’t the only company developing their own SLA systems, they succeeded in separating themselves from the pack after winning a 2016 German iF Design Award for their RAPID400 3D Printer.

Prismlab has teamed up with x3D Group SAS, a Lyon-France based company specialized in Additive Manufacturing technologies, from plastic to metal, in a large range of markets. x3D Group is marketing the Rapid Series across Europe, Turkey & Israel, through its distribution network. Its president Kamal BOUNOUARA says «The 3D printing industry is moving fast, it is time to print fast ». More info on www.x3d-group.com

The awards ceremony, hosted in Hanover, Germany has been in existence since 1953 and is often regarded as being the “Oscars in the design world”. Held every year, the competition aims to revitalize facets of product aesthetics, performance, environmental protection, brand value and more.

It also seems the competition gets stronger every year. In 2016, for example, the judges comprised of members from 15 countries and had to sift through an astonishingly high 3000 entries with only 75 total winners spread out through a variety of design disciplines.

Considering the clean look and capabilities of the RAPPID400 3D Printer, their recent praise shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise. Additionally, the Prismlab team suggests it can produce 3D printed parts up to 10 times faster than similarly priced 3D printers with the help of their patented MFP technology.

Further to the design award just won, the company has other advantages such as having over 10 3D printing patents, providing lower-cost options (compared with 3D printers in their class) and home to a team of industry experts. All said, the focus with their 3D printing equipment and supplies offerings revolve around several disciplines such as jewellery making, healthcare, education and other precision based industrial markets.

All told, this award is very good news for the Prismlab 3D printing team. But the IF Design process isn’t over yet, while the jury process is now complete, the announcement of the prestigious Gold Award Winners won’t be unveiled until the 26th of February in Hamburg. For a technology that started over 30 years ago today, 3D printing continues to make strides in both product quality and performance but also from a design perspective and this award victory proves this yet again.